11 key moments from the argument over the Defense of Marriage Act The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared highly skeptical of the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law that blocks federal recognition of gay marriages, according to courtroom observers. Here are 11 key moments from the arguments, which followed Tuesday’s session on California’s ban on same-sex marriage. The two cases could reshape the legal status of hundreds of thousands of gay couples. Read the complete story.
View Separately

11 key moments from the argument over the Defense of Marriage Act

The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared highly skeptical of the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law that blocks federal recognition of gay marriages, according to courtroom observers.

Here are 11 key moments from the arguments, which followed Tuesday’s session on California’s ban on same-sex marriage. The two cases could reshape the legal status of hundreds of thousands of gay couples.

Read the complete story.

Source: nbcnews.to

Day 2 of historic gay marriage hearings (Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) Supreme Court hears arguments in a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, which allows federal benefits to go only to heterosexual married couples. Read the complete story and watch live scenes from outside the Supreme Court.
Pop-upView Separately

Day 2 of historic gay marriage hearings

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

Supreme Court hears arguments in a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, which allows federal benefits to go only to heterosexual married couples.

Read the complete story and watch live scenes from outside the Supreme Court.

Source: nbcnews.to

Supreme Court hears historic argument on marriage laws (Photo: Jonathan Ernst / Reuters) The Supreme Court began hearing a historic one-hour oral argument on marriage Tuesday which could lead to any one of a wide array of possible decisions — from essentially leaving in place the traditional marriage laws now on the books in most states to proclaiming same-sex marriage a fundamental right under the United States Constitution. Read the complete story and watch live scenes from outside the Supreme Court.
Pop-upView Separately

Supreme Court hears historic argument on marriage laws

(Photo: Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)

The Supreme Court began hearing a historic one-hour oral argument on marriage Tuesday which could lead to any one of a wide array of possible decisions — from essentially leaving in place the traditional marriage laws now on the books in most states to proclaiming same-sex marriage a fundamental right under the United States Constitution.

Read the complete story and watch live scenes from outside the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court takes up historic gay marriage battle (Photo: NBC News) The U.S. Supreme Court this week takes its first serious look ever at the issue of same-sex marriage, considering two cases that raise a fundamental issue: does the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection allow legal distinctions between same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex? Read the complete story.
View Separately

Supreme Court takes up historic gay marriage battle

(Photo: NBC News)

The U.S. Supreme Court this week takes its first serious look ever at the issue of same-sex marriage, considering two cases that raise a fundamental issue: does the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection allow legal distinctions between same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex?

Read the complete story.

Source: nbcnews.to

Specter legacy resonates on Supreme Court (Photo: Tom Williams / Roll Call) Former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, who died Sunday of cancer at age 82, leaves a complex political legacy behind – one that has flummoxed both parties in a career that spanned nearly 50 years. Read the complete story.
Pop-upView Separately

Specter legacy resonates on Supreme Court

(Photo: Tom Williams / Roll Call)

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, who died Sunday of cancer at age 82, leaves a complex political legacy behind – one that has flummoxed both parties in a career that spanned nearly 50 years.

Read the complete story.

Source: nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com

Conservatives warily ponder prospect of an ‘Obama court’ (Photo: Alex Wong / Getty Images) There are still 42 days and four debates left before the presidential election and many signs point to a close outcome, but recent polling both nationally and in key battleground states like Ohio has conservatives concerned about the impact President Obama could have on the judiciary in a second term. Read the complete story.
Pop-upView Separately

Conservatives warily ponder prospect of an ‘Obama court’

(Photo: Alex Wong / Getty Images)

There are still 42 days and four debates left before the presidential election and many signs point to a close outcome, but recent polling both nationally and in key battleground states like Ohio has conservatives concerned about the impact President Obama could have on the judiciary in a second term.

Source: nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com

For families of victims of juvenile murderers, ruling reopens ‘traumatic wounds’ (Photo: Courtesy of Bobbi Jamriska) Nineteen years ago, Bobbi Jamriska’s younger sister was found murdered in a Pennsylvania schoolyard. As Jamriska grieved, one thing brought her solace: When a court found her sister’s 16-year-old ex-boyfriend guilty and sentenced him to life in prison without parole. “When you get up every day, you think about what happened, but at least you know that there was that one constant, that life-without-parole was going to make sure that you never had to relive that part of it,” said Jamriska, 40, who lives in Pittsburgh. But three months ago, the Supreme Court struck down mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles as cruel and unusual punishment. While the June 25 ruling wasn’t necessarily designed to be applied retroactively, some youth advocates are trying to use it to free so-called “juvenile lifers,” setting off a series of battles over what to do with the approximately 2,100 convicted murderers who were handed mandatory life-without-parole sentences for acts committed as youths. Read the complete story.
View Separately

For families of victims of juvenile murderers, ruling reopens ‘traumatic wounds’

(Photo: Courtesy of Bobbi Jamriska)

Nineteen years ago, Bobbi Jamriska’s younger sister was found murdered in a Pennsylvania schoolyard. As Jamriska grieved, one thing brought her solace: When a court found her sister’s 16-year-old ex-boyfriend guilty and sentenced him to life in prison without parole.

“When you get up every day, you think about what happened, but at least you know that there was that one constant, that life-without-parole was going to make sure that you never had to relive that part of it,” said Jamriska, 40, who lives in Pittsburgh.

But three months ago, the Supreme Court struck down mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles as cruel and unusual punishment. While the June 25 ruling wasn’t necessarily designed to be applied retroactively, some youth advocates are trying to use it to free so-called “juvenile lifers,” setting off a series of battles over what to do with the approximately 2,100 convicted murderers who were handed mandatory life-without-parole sentences for acts committed as youths.

Read the complete story.

Source: usnews.nbcnews.com

Nearly two-thirds of Americans can’t name a single Supreme Court justice; can you? (Photo: Larry Downing / Reuters file) The Supreme Court has been making big headlines this summer, both with its split decision to upheld one part of a tough Arizona immigration law while striking down three other parts, and its decision to upheld the 2010 health care law, thus preserving President Obama’s landmark legislative achievement. Read the complete story and take the survey.
Pop-upView Separately

Nearly two-thirds of Americans can’t name a single Supreme Court justice; can you?

(Photo: Larry Downing / Reuters file)

The Supreme Court has been making big headlines this summer, both with its split decision to upheld one part of a tough Arizona immigration law while striking down three other parts, and its decision to upheld the 2010 health care law, thus preserving President Obama’s landmark legislative achievement.

Source: usnews.nbcnews.com

NBC/WSJ poll: More would be pleased if health law ruled unconstitutional With the U.S. Supreme Court set to decide on President Obama’s health-care law on Thursday, more Americans say they would be pleased if the law is ruled unconstitutional than constitutional, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. In the survey, 37 percent say they would be pleased if the Supreme Court finds the law unconstitutional, versus 22 percent who say they would be disappointed with that outcome. Read the complete story. Would you be pleased if the health law ruled unconstitutional?
View Separately

NBC/WSJ poll: More would be pleased if health law ruled unconstitutional

With the U.S. Supreme Court set to decide on President Obama’s health-care law on Thursday, more Americans say they would be pleased if the law is ruled unconstitutional than constitutional, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

In the survey, 37 percent say they would be pleased if the Supreme Court finds the law unconstitutional, versus 22 percent who say they would be disappointed with that outcome.

Read the complete story.

Would you be pleased if the health law ruled unconstitutional?

Source: MSN

Top